Come to meet, greet hundreds of bikers at downtown Erie bike night

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle, right, sits along State Street between 11th and 12th streets in Erie on May 25. Erie hosted the first Bike Night of 2012, as hundreds of motorcycles, motorcycle owners and enthusiasts filled the street from 6 to 10 p.m.. ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Hundreds of bikes are expected to roll in for the first Harley-Davidson & Labatt Blue Bike Night of the season. Different makes and models will be parked up and down State Street, between Third and 14th streets, starting at 6 p.m.

"The weather is starting to break. It's time to get out and ride," said John Buchna, chief executive of the Erie Downtown Partnership. "So this is like the first event where we say, 'Come on downtown, ride up and down the streets.'"

Other bike nights are scheduled for June 14, July 12 and Aug. 30.

Motorcycle riders haven't wasted any time hitting the roads, especially on the summerlike days that have popped up this spring. But events like tonight's bike night offer a rare chance for riders in the region to meet, hang out and swap stories.

Families and nonriders are encouraged to come, too.

"The spirit of motorcycling is really about camaraderie," said Kelly Lapping, co-owner of the Harley-Davidson Dealership of Erie, a sponsor for this year's downtown bike nights. "They can sit together on downtown bike night, have a couple beverages, and share the enthusiasm and passion for motorcycling."

It's also good for the downtown, too.

"From the business perspective, it brings people there, and they're going to spend their money at the local businesses downtown," Lapping said. "It helps draw visitors to our community."

But tonight's bike night isn't all about motorcycles -- bicycles are also welcome. Tonight's event follows an Erie Downtown Partnership announcement that 40 new bike racks will be installed throughout the city. And May just happens to be National Bicycle Month and also Motorcycle Awareness Month.

While a night hanging out with bikers might sound strange, just know that Erie's motorcycle scene isn't like "Sons of Anarchy." You'll find lots of familiar faces among local riders, Buchna said.

"These are your neighbors who buy motorcycles -- people you wouldn't believe are into motorcycles," he said. "You look over, and there's your banker or your doctor, or your lawyer or your business accountant."

Especially in Erie, where winter weather tends to linger longer than many people would like, there seems to be a strong population of bikers, Lapping said. With all of the bike nights, Roar on the Shore and the Harley-Davidson Bike Fest in July, the Erie region will likely see about 100,000 bikes pass through this summer, he said.

Walt Gunter, founder of the Erie Road Riders group on Meetup.com, isn't surprised by the growing interest in motorcycles. Being on a bike just changes people, he said.

"It's hard to explain, honestly," he said. "It's good therapy. When I get on my bike, I tend to forget about all my worries and become one with my machine on the road, and (with) the sights and sounds and smells."

There's also something about riding that makes you want to meet and ride with other bikers. Gunter, an Ashtabula, Ohio, resident who's attended Erie bike nights, said it's fun to see how other riders customize their bikes, where they ride and hear some of their stories.

"It's always different every time," Gunter said. "It's nice to see all those people get together with a common bond and interest."